Unless you have been living under a rock, chances are you have seen one of GEICO's many advertisements. Regardless of…
Beware of Engine Flush Scams
🎙️ Enjoy our PODCAST on this topic
* podcast transcript
EVA
Ever go in for an oil change and that little light goes off in your head when the mechanic’s like, you know, we should probably do an engine flush and you’re like, wait, is this really necessary or are you just trying to make a quick buck off me?
MAX
It’s a question I think a lot of car owners have.
EVA
Right.
MAX
‘Cause, you know, we want to trust our mechanics, but we also don’t want to be taken advantage of.
EVA
Exactly, and you sent in this great article. Beware of engine flush scams. So I think it’s time we do a deep dive and break this whole thing down. So picture this, you’re at the shop maybe for a routine oil change, and suddenly they’re talking about sludge buildup and how an engine flush is the only way to save your car. Before you freak out, let’s talk about what an engine flush even is. So.
MAX
An engine flush is basically like they use solvents to dissolve the gunk, the sludge that builds up in your engine over time.
EVA
Because you sludge, nobody wants that.
MAX
Right. But here’s the thing. That sludge, while not ideal, it doesn’t just magically disappear. So think of it like when you have a clogged drain and you use like, a really powerful chemical to clear it. OK, yeah, it might clear the clog, right? But all that gunk has to go somewhere. Oh, I’m getting a visual and it’s not good. Exactly instead of vanishing into thin air, that loosened sludge can actually get carried into other vital engine components.
EVA
Oh no.
MAX
Like, think about your oil passages, your filters, you know, the very systems that are supposed to keep your engine running smoothly.
EVA
So you’re telling me that you might go in to fix one problem and you could walk out with like a laundry list of new problems?
MAX
Potentially, yeah. And if that weren’t enough, here’s the real kicker. Not a single major car manufacturer recommends engine flushes as part of regular maintenance, are you?
EVA
Serious.
MAX
Not one.
EVA
Not even like a little* in the owner’s manual, just in case.
MAX
Nope. In fact, some manufacturers even explicitly advise against them. Think about that. They built the car. They know it inside and out, right? And they’re saying steer clear. Yeah.
EVA
That’s a red flag.
MAX
That’s a red flag.
EVA
That’s a big red flag.
MAX
Big time.
EVA
It kind of makes you wonder like why are they pushing this so hard if it’s not even recommended?
MAX
Well, I think it often comes down to, you know, just like a knowledge gap, like most of us aren’t mechanics, and that’s OK, right?
EVA
But it can make us, I think, a little bit vulnerable.
MAX
Right. They kind of use it against us, don’t they?
EVA
Like, I don’t know. I feel like if they start throwing out terms, I’m like, oh, I should know this. So yeah, OK, sure. Yeah. It can be intimidating.
MAX
Totally, Yeah. And especially when they frame it as like, oh, this is just preventative maintenance. Like you want to prolong the life of your engine. All right. And it’s like, well, yeah, of course I do.
EVA
I actually, you know, I was thinking about this and I had a mechanic try to sell me on all these, like, extra services a while back. And I almost caved. But then I remembered something really important actually that we’re talking about today, which is like, I remembered my owner’s manual and I pulled it out and I was like flipping through it. And guess what? None of the stuff he was recommending was even listed. It is shocking how often just a quick like glance at your owner’s manual can save you so much heartache. Yes, it really is like the Bible for your car for a reason.
MAX
Yes, it’s going to tell you like what the manufacturer actually recommends the maintenance schedule, right? And honestly, it’s like your best weapon against upselling. Absolutely. Because if it’s not in there, yeah, it’s probably not necessary.
EVA
So true.
MAX
So before to say yes to anything, especially something like an engine flush, go back, look at the owner’s manual, see what it says, because if it’s not in there, it’s probably not necessary.
EVA
And a good mechanic should be able to, like, explain you why they think a service is necessary. And they should be able to do it in a way that makes sense.
MAX
They shouldn’t be getting defensive or like trying to pressure you, you know? And if something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to. Just like you know what? Get a second opinion. Get a second opinion 100%.
EVA
So it sounds like the general consensus here is, like with the engine flesh, air on the side of caution, but are there ever situations where you actually would need an engine flesh?
MAX
That’s a great question.
EVA
Yeah, there are like a few edge cases where it might be necessary.
MAX
Like, for example, let’s say your engine gets contaminated with like the wrong suet, like let’s say brake fluid or like steering fluid. That’s a big no, no, Yeah. Those are not supposed to mix with your engine oil. And if they do, it can cause like some serious damage. So it’s kind of like hitting the reset button. Yeah, like in that case, an engine flush might be the only way to really fully purge the system and like prevent further damage, OK.
EVA
So that makes sense.
MAX
But if we’re not doing like these routine engine flushes, what should we be doing to keep our engines, you know, happy and healthy?
EVA
What’s the secret? Give it to me straight. How do we keep our engines running happy without these flushes? The good news is it’s usually the simple things, sticking to your regular oil changes, like it says in your owner’s manual, Goods quality oil, that’s going to make a world of difference. It’s like the simplest answer is always the best one, right?
MAX
And honestly so much easier on the wallet probably than like an engine flush that could lead to all these other problems.
EVA
Exactly. You’re already ahead of the game and just generally, you know, being in tune with your car, like how it’s running, any weird noises, warning lights, that kind of thing.
MAX
Catching things early can really save you a lot of hassle down the line. Yeah, and having a good mechanic you trust, that’s key too, right? Oh, absolutely.
EVA
I used to be so intimidated by car stuff, it just seemed like such a mystery.
MAX
But this deep dive has been great ’cause I feel like knowledge is power, right?
EVA
Yes, 100% and that’s what we want to empower you to be able to like, speak up for yourself, ask the right questions and feel confident.
MAX
Yes.
EVA
So to wrap it all up, basically what you’re saying is unless it’s in your owner’s manual or you’ve had like a really specific issue where some other fluid got in there right, just say no to the engine flush.
MAX
Just say no, you got it.
EVA
You heard it here first, folks. Knowledge is power and hopefully we just saved you all a ton of money today.
MAX
Exactly.
EVA
Until next time, everybody, drive safe and remember your owner’s manual is your best friend.
Countless numbers of people have been asked by a technician during an oil change if they want an engine flush. If the technician is pushy or insists that this is a service that is recommend and overdue, many people will go ahead and have the service done, even if they do not really understand what it is or why the mechanic thinks it is necessary.
Many shops will prey on people who do not seem to know very much about the inner workings of a vehicle, ensuring them that this service with make their car function properly, while the reality is that the opposite is actually true.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance in Your Area
What does an engine flush do?
Essentially, an engine flush consists of using solvents to eat away at the sludge that builds up on your engine over time. It sounds like something your engine would need, especially if your car is more than a few years old. Throughout normal operation, your vehicle’s engine collects sludge from oil. Cars that are not properly maintained or in which low-quality oil is used are more likely to have a sludge problem.
In order to remove that sludge, a mechanic might recommend a flush to get rid of it. It sounds like a great deal, right? For a few extra dollars, you get an engine that is “cleaned out”, and therefore should run, like new. However, that is rarely the case. While the solvents used to break down the sludge do work and they can effectively remove sludge from your engine, they actually often do far more harm than good, the biggest issue being that some of the sludge runs into other parts of your engine to clog up other components, the blocking of which causes an expensive repair down the line.
One of the most common components that is blocked during an engine flush are the oil passages themselves, depriving your engine of oil. Flushed sludge can also clog an oil filter, which, again, makes it difficult for your engine to get the oil that it needs.
All Manufacturers Warn Against It
There are no car manufacturers that recommend oil flushes as a part of regular maintenance. They do recommend using high quality oil and having your car regularly maintained, but some have even put out press releases asking their customer to never get this service, no matter how urgent a mechanic says an engine flush is. It is not one of the regular services included in any owner’s manual maintenance schedules, simply because it is not necessary.
The rate of damage to engines and other components after an engine flush is staggeringly high. And though shops like Jiffy Lube are most commonly cited as the source of the problem, just about any quick oil change shop will offer an engine flush (along with other expensive and unnecessary “upsells”). When asked about these services, the executive offices of these businesses have simply said that their technicians often claim that a service is recommended by a manufacturer, when it is simply recommended by Jiffy Lube.
This probably isn’t news to anyone who has been to one of these quick oil change places. Just about everyone has been told by a mechanic that they need to have one of these services. Many people refuse simply because it is time-consuming and tacks on at least another $20 on to an already expensive oil change, not because of the high risk of damage to the vehicle after an engine flush.
Despite the fact that most of the big car manufacturers have asked their customers to refuse this service, many shops are still offering it, and there are still a plethora of technicians pressuring customers into getting it. In general, the best thing to do when a technician tells you it’s time for a certain service is to consult your owner’s manual to see if your car really is due for that service, and, more importantly, whether or not it is even listed as a recommended service.
For the record, the only time an engine flush is necessary is when a foreign fluid is accidentally added to an engine, such as brake fluid or steering fluid. This is because a foreign fluid is usually guaranteed to damage an engine and an engine flush is the only way to completely remove a foreign fluid.
